Updated June 20, 2022

We’ve made a big step towards ending the pandemic with vaccines now available to protect adults and youth against COVID-19, now including young children. Kentucky’s approximately one million kids look forward to the day when they can more safely spend time with friends, travel with their families, attend school in person, and enjoy their communities.

To protect children from COVID-19 and potential variants, the American Academy of Pediatrics provided a checklist for parents and caregivers for child COVID-19 vaccinations.  

The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for kids 6 months old and up. The COVID vaccine dose your child will get is based on their age. Two COVID-19 vaccine products are authorized for kids. Your pediatrician can explain which vaccine is right for your baby, child, or teen.

Getting your child ready for the COVID-19 vaccination:  

  • Call your child’s pediatrician or primary care doctor to ask them questions, share any concerns you may have, or tell them you’re planning to have your child vaccinated. 
  • Schedule your child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Parents and caregivers can find vaccination sites administering the vaccine on vaccines.gov, including at your pediatrician’s office, vaccination clinic, pharmacy, community vaccination site, church or school.  
  • Talk with your child before the appointment. Many parents may have concerns about how their child might act when they need a shot. But there are simple ways to help make it a positive, calm experience.
  • After your child receives their vaccine, schedule the next dose. Kids age 5 years and up should get a booster when it is time.
  • Double check that your child is up to date on all other routine immunizations. Making sure that your Kentucky Certification of Immunization is up to date is important for keeping your child and their peers safe from preventable diseases. You can double check what vaccinations are required for your grade level by checking the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services website.  
  • Keep the paper vaccination card you receive in a safe place and don’t laminate the card in case more information needs to be added. Additionally, take a photo of the paper card, or make a copy of it, and send it to the pediatrician or primary care doctor to update your child’s medical record. Your child’s day care, preschool, school or college health office also may need a copy of the card. Don’t share a photo of the card on social media to avoid identity theft risk.

If a parent or child in your family is on Medicaid or KCHIP, here are additional resources from the Managed Care Organizations in Kentucky:  

Vaccine participation and access should be encouraged and supported for all babies, children, and teens, with particular attention to those disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Ensuring children have access to the COVID-19 vaccine will not only positively impact health but will also serve as a catalyst for a safer community environment.